Why are you this wound-up over a truck that you aren't even buying but your employer is? Give it a rest man.

Well, seeing as you asked:

First: I'm the guy who has to live with the impracticality of modern truck design. The high bed height and box sides are not only impractical and hard on my olde body, but climbing 3 feet in and out the back of a truck with a load of tools and supplies takes longer and reduces productivity on the jobsite.

Second: We are a small business with only a couple vehicles that operates on tight margins. So when we make an investment in a shop vehicle, we must get many years of trouble free service from it - we can't afford to be replacing it as soon as the warranty period runs out, or experience excessive downtime due to repairs. Flimsy plastic interiors and superfluous electronics run contrary to that. Our Jeep Patriot sat in the shop for three days waiting for a new u-connect/infotainment/gps (under warranty) during which time it wasn't out on the road doing sales calls making us money.

Third: I along with a partner own the company.... So I'm the guy signing the cheque for whatever we end up buying.

I think everyone has lived with a work vehicle that we wish was better! Back in the day, I was so happy that we were getting a New Van.It was so nice to have a New Van! We were driving trash.The boss was cheap and got us a new Chevy, while no A/C but had heat. White Dog Dishes, 3 on the tree, and a 250 six. It had an A/M radio he wanted to have taken out t0 save $ so they gave it to him free.It was Chevy Van but had a rear door with GMC on it. All other things were Bow Tie in on it.

Edited by 340SIX (01/26/1812:16 PM)

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VP of the MPM in New Orleans 73 Dart Sport 340/ 70 challenger vert. That may still get built, If I live long enough

It was Chevy Van but had a rear door with GMC on it. All other things were Bow Tie in on it.

This must have been the eighties. That sounds like typical 80s GM quality control.

Yepper And the GMC dealer wanted more $ so he got the Chevy.Right before the warranty ran out. The Shift Rods got bent up. They fixed it free. He did that in just one hour or 2. We let him use it to run and get something. After that we Dad and I Were the only ones to drive it. Then right after fixed just driving it, the tube broke. I kid you not! I think it was the idiot who worked with us messed it up trying to get the rods free. Again! The only day he used it. So you could no longer shift it. It ended up with a long Truck shifter made by Hurst with round 3-speed ball. lolAfter a million miles it was traded in on a Van with 305 and 3 speed on the tree.Bare bones like they should make now in vans and trucks

Edited by 340SIX (01/26/1803:04 PM)

_________________________
VP of the MPM in New Orleans 73 Dart Sport 340/ 70 challenger vert. That may still get built, If I live long enough

Why are you this wound-up over a truck that you aren't even buying but your employer is? Give it a rest man.

Well, seeing as you asked:

First: I'm the guy who has to live with the impracticality of modern truck design. The high bed height and box sides are not only impractical and hard on my olde body, but climbing 3 feet in and out the back of a truck with a load of tools and supplies takes longer and reduces productivity on the jobsite.

Second: We are a small business with only a couple vehicles that operates on tight margins. So when we make an investment in a shop vehicle, we must get many years of trouble free service from it - we can't afford to be replacing it as soon as the warranty period runs out, or experience excessive downtime due to repairs. Flimsy plastic interiors and superfluous electronics run contrary to that. Our Jeep Patriot sat in the shop for three days waiting for a new u-connect/infotainment/gps (under warranty) during which time it wasn't out on the road doing sales calls making us money.

Third: I along with a partner own the company.... So I'm the guy signing the cheque for whatever we end up buying.

Sad comment on the design that most of us are talking about how we can tolerate the painted front a little more because it deemphasizes the styling...

The front end treatment in Chrome, quite honesty is rather hideous, the longhorn version color keyed is more tolerable, might even look palatable in all black?... but that HAL9000 mounted in the dash, I could do without!